CRPF officer cleared of molestation charges in Bengal

Kolkata, May 19 (IANS) West Bengal has given a clean chit to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Aloke Raj, who was slapped with molestation charges during the panchayat polls in Nandigram, officials said Monday. “During the first phase of the three-phased panchayat polls May 11, Alok Raj was charged with molesting two women at Nandigram. But as per the report sent by Inspector General (western Range) Rakesh Gupta, there is no evidence on the charge or the counter-charge of molestation. Hence, we have given a clean chit to Aloke Raj on Sunday,” state Home Secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti told reporters at Writer’s Building here.

“It is surprising and unfortunate that people have started bringing charges and counter-charges of molestation on every other issue,” he added.

On May 11, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) supporters had alleged that Raj, along with his team, molested two CPI-M women supporters at Gokulnagar area of Nandigram in East Midnapore district.

CPI-M MP Laxman Seth even had a face-off Raj over the molestation charges and CRPF patrolling during the polls.

Seth allegedly threatened the CRPF chief for acting out of his own jurisdiction and asked him to function within his own limits.